Applications

3. Xylitol and Xylose

Xylitol is made from 5-carbon sugar Xylose. It is an odorless white crystalline powder. It has distinctive sweetness,  dissolves readily in water, and slightly in ethanol. It belongs to the D-category and is a natural product. Used as a diabetic supplement in food industry. 

Xylitol is often used in food and pharmaceutical industry as alternative sweeteners for diabetic diets, because: 

1) Xylitol has low glycemic index and 40% fewer calories than sugar. Work with your weight watch/control.

2) Xylitol is actually good for teeth. Xylitol does not cause cavities of the teeth as often as the other nutritive sweeteners, so it is used in chewing gum. it stimulates remineralization of teeth, and it fights ear and sinus infections. Use xylitol for your desserts if they are to be fed to kids.

3) It's beneficial for diabetics. It is taken up slowly from the intestine so that it causes little change in blood glucose.

Xylose, natural D-xylose, is used as a substitute of Ribose in flavor industry.